The Real Issue In America

The Real Issue In America

By: Allofus

The attitude of the American majority toward certain ethnic groups in the U.S. and throughout the world has been and still is “the real issue in America.” To a large extent the Industrial Revolution and American History underscore the reason for this attitude. History reminds us that this American majority (former British citizens) were once viewed by the British Government as social outcasts who by necessity became the instrument of Great Britain’s Industrial Revolution and the Institution of Slavery. At the time, these British Subjects accused and portrayed the British Government as the enemy and oppressor of their dreams and aspirations in the New World (America).

However, history also records that these British Subjects won their freedom from Great Britain at the expense of African and American Indian freedom. This basic ideological contradiction eventually caused a split in America (Civil War-North vs. South) with abolitionists who saw slavery and Indian reservations as an equivalent injustice to the British Government’s oppression of their rights in the past.

Therefore, is it not fair and just when American Indians see themselves as prisoners of war under occupation by former British Subjects who defected to North America? American Indians are angered further (justifiably so) when they recall the many Indians who taught these British settlers to grow corn and survive in a new environment (America), only to have their land appropriated. American Indians view these actions toward them in the same light as foreign intervention in Vietnam, South Africa, Korea, Argentina, Chile, Iraq, Palestine, and other parts of the world.

In America, “the real issue” is always the one nobody feels comfortable talking about. For example, during World War II, Japanese-Americans, born legally as American citizens, were detained and placed in U.S. Government relocation camps. German American citizens were not subjected to the same type of treatment. Why the Japanese and not the Germans?

During the civil rights movement in the 1960’s and to this day, African-Americans, born legally as American citizens, have been killed, beaten and jailed across the U.S. for having peaceful, non-violent demonstrations to achieve racial, economic, political, and social equality.

Another example of this majority attitude surfaced in the midst of the U.S.-Iranian hostage crisis. Iranian people, some born legally as American citizens and some not, were subjected to harassment by the U.S. Government and the American people at large. Iranians were victims of mob attacks, personal threats against their lives, and other barbaric offenses.

And of course, the witch-hunt for Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) in Iraq that never materialized. This pre-emptive strike on a sovereign nation was allowed under the pretext of an alleged connection between Osama Bin Laden and Iraq that has never existed. Is this a political/terrorist issue or an oil/economic issue for certain special interests?

We as Americans have the tendency to talk about human rights, yet, our attitudes and actions show the world another picture of us. How can we stand by and not remove the people at the top of the military/government that were responsible for the torturing of prisoners in Vietnam and Iraq?

Should we deport and drop bombs on England, or harass all British people in America if England takes anti-American actions similar to the incident in Iraq? Or, maybe the British should deport all the Irish in England who support the anti-British revolt in Ireland. Why not deport all the Italians in America if Italy becomes communist?

The Klu Klux Klan and the American Nazi Party have done more to distort and destroy the American Constitution and American founding father ideals than any other organization, group or individual in the U.S. Why haven’t we deported them to a communist country or someplace that accepts their philosophy?

In our recent past, the Haitian boat people were victims of this American Government and/or American majority attitude. Our Government launched an anti Haitian campaign long before the majority of the Haitian boat people even arrived on our shores. And, once they did arrive, they were labeled with every form of antisocial disease under the sun – from ‘Herpes to AIDS. Why was it so important to mount such a blatant attack against the Haitian people? After all, the U.S. Government admits they defected from a non-communist country, which should mean they are friends and not enemies.

It seems that we have a history of putting dictators in power and then taking them out of office by any means necessary when their existence is no longer expedient to achieve U.S. goals and objectives. The “A” list is quite long: Noriega, Marcos, Shah of Iran, Bastista, Osama, Papa Doc, Sadaam, and Khadafi (all men of color).

How can our President or any other American citizen legitimately talk about human rights when we ourselves have lessons to learn? As Americans we should stop making ourselves the laughing stock of world opinion. Let’s take a close look in the mirror for a change and soon we will discover “The Real Issue in America.”